Jimmy Carter raves over Camp David play

For the premiere of the Arena Stage’s “Camp David” on Thursday night, it was former President Jimmy Carter who received multiple standing ovations for what he called, “a really emotional experience.”

The president, along with his wife, Rosalynn, were among those in the audience for the Washington theater’s new production. The play focuses on the Carters, as well as Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the 13-day negotiations during September 1978 that led to the Camp David Accords.

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“It was amazingly good. I couldn’t believe how good it was. The audience just was enraptured,” Carter said in an interview Friday after he had seen the performance.

“A third or half of them had tears running down their cheeks. It was a really emotional experience,” he said.

As Carter and his wife entered the theater on Thursday night, which was filled with more than 500 attendees for the sold-out show, the crowd stood to welcome them with applause. Those in attendance included House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell and Chris Matthews and CBS’s Bob Schieffer. The widow of Anwar Sadat, Jehan Sadat, also attended.

Prior to the show, the former president attended a closed-press dinner at the Arena Stage, where he recounted his time negotiating with Sadat and Begin.

“Those 13 days were among the most dramatic of my life,” Carter said.

“I think the most dramatic was when I asked Rosa to marry me in February of 1946 and she said no,” Carter said to laughter.

He said that ahead of Thursday’s performance he had not seen the play or read the script, but noted there is a message to take away from the production.

“The main lesson that will come from this play is that peace is possible,” Carter said.

During the performance, Carter could be seen laughing along with the audience during the more comedic exchanges on stage.

The show ended with the conclusion that framework agreements would be signed. As the house lights came on, Carter and the rest of the audience gave the cast a standing ovation, before the applause was turned to the Carters once again, who eventually joined the cast on stage. Carter did not make public remarks at the play.